Diesel gas turbine system and related methods

Abstract

A combined diesel gas-turbine system for optimizing operation and combustion processes of a diesel engine includes a catalytic sub-system, a turbo-generator sub-system and a hybrid sub-system. The catalytic sub-system is in communication with an exhaust port of the diesel engine and is operative for combusting and reducing all pollutants from diesel exhaust. The catalytic sub-system is a three-way catalytic converter and a first catalytic converter in series with a second catalytic converter. The turbo-generator sub-system is operative for the reclamation of secondary energy from the catalytic sub-system and includes a turbine in communication with the second catalytic converter for receiving a source of cleaned exhaust gas to drive the turbine. The hybrid sub-system is operative for the management of energy within the system. The system may incorporate a waste heat recovery system and convert it to mechanical power. The system may include a steam generator for the recovery of waste heat from the post turbo-charger exhaust. The combined diesel gas-turbine system is capable of reducing all diesel engine pollutants to near-zero levels and increase thermal efficiency.

1. A combined diesel-gas turbine system, the system comprising:
 a diesel engine; 
 a catalytic sub-system in communication with an exhaust port of the diesel engine, the catalytic sub-system operative for combusting all unburned exhaust pollutants, and reducing NOx, the catalytic sub-system increases the internal energy of the exhaust gases; 
 a gas-turbine sub-system for delivering excess energy to a storage system; and 
 a hybrid electric sub-system for the management of energy generated by the storage system; 
 wherein the combined diesel-gas turbine system operates at steady conditions close to stoichiometric conditions; and 
 wherein the catalytic sub-system includes a first catalytic converter and a second catalytic converter, the first catalytic converter operative to burn HC, CO, VOC and H 2  and reduce NOx in the exhaust until oxygen in the exhaust is depleted, the second catalytic converter operative to destroy all remaining HC, CO and VOC with the assistance of air injected after the first catalytic converter and before the second catalytic converter. 
 
     
     
       2. The combined diesel gas-turbine system of  claim 1 , in combination with mobile diesel engine application. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a steam generator to further increase the thermal efficiency of the system. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second catalytic converters are in series. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second catalytic converters are ahead of the turbo-charger. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second catalytic converter is in communication with a turbine of the gas-turbine sub-system for recuperation of secondary combustion energy. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further including a source of injected air in communication with the catalytic sub-system after the first catalytic converter and before the second catalytic converter. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the injected air comprises about 1% to 2% compared to the volume of exhaust exiting the engine. 
     
     
       9. A combined diesel gas-turbine system for optimizing operation and combustion process of a diesel engine, the diesel engine having a variable valve train system and controls to operate at steady state conditions at close to stoichiometric conditions, the combined diesel gas-turbine system comprising:
 a catalytic sub-system operative for combusting diesel exhaust pollutants, the catalytic sub-system including a first catalytic converter and a second catalytic converter, the first catalytic converter operative to burn HC, CO, VOC and H 2  and reduce NOx in the exhaust until oxygen in the exhaust is depleted, the second catalytic converter operative to destroy all remaining HC, CO and VOC with the assistance of air injected after the first catalytic converter and before the second catalytic converter; 
 a turbo-charger sub-system for the reclamation of secondary energy, the turbo-charger sub-system including a turbine in communication with the second catalytic converter for receiving a source of cleaned exhaust gas to drive the turbine; and 
 a hybrid sub-system for the management of energy within the system, the hybrid sub-system mechanically coupled to the diesel engine for receiving mechanical power from the diesel engine and electrically coupled to the turbo-charger sub-system through a motor/generator. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the diesel engine includes an even number of cylinders and maintains steady exhaust temperatures during operation. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the catalytic sub-system is capable of reducing all exhaust pollutants to near-zero level and increase the internal energy in the exhaust gases. 
     
     
       12. A method for optimizing the operating and combustion processes of a diesel engine with a turbo-charger with a combined diesel gas-turbine system, the method including:
 combusting exhaust gas from the diesel engine with a three-way catalytic sub-system including a first catalytic converter in series with a second catalytic converter, including:
 combusting the exhaust gas with the first catalytic converter to burn HC, CO, VOC and H 2  and reduce NOx in the exhaust until oxygen in the exhaust is depleted; 
 injecting air into the three-way catalytic converter after the first catalytic converter and before the second catalytic converter; and 
 further combusting the exhaust gas with the second catalytic converter to destroy all remaining HC, CO and VOC with the assistance of the air injected after the first catalytic converter and before the second catalytic converter; 
 
 routing at least a portion of a cleaned exhaust gas from the catalytic sub-system to a turbine of a turbo-charger to thereby reclaim a source of secondary energy; 
 delivering a source of turbo-charged air from the turbo-charger to an intake of the diesel engine; and 
 managing energy within the system with a hybrid sub-system, the hybrid sub-system including the hybrid sub-system mechanically coupled to the diesel engine for receiving mechanical power from the diesel engine and electrically coupled to the turbo-charger sub-system through a motor/generator.